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Urgent & Emergency Care in Dunbar, Vancouver
When your dog or cat suddenly gets sick or hurt, the next decision matters. Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Dunbar sees urgent and emergency cases during our clinic hours every day of the week. Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Call (604) 221-5858 first so our team can triage your pet over the phone and prepare for your arrival. Same-day appointments are reserved every day specifically for urgent cases that cannot wait.
Outside of our clinic hours, we encourage you to contact a nearby 24-hour veterinary facility for urgent care.
Urgent veterinary care covers same-day assessment and care for dogs and cats with sudden illness or injury. Common urgent presentations include sudden vomiting, difficulty breathing, allergic reactions, injuries or limping, urinary obstruction, ingestion of toxic substances, and any rapid change in condition. Calling ahead helps the team prioritise and prepare.
What Counts as a Pet Emergency in Vancouver
Some urgent situations are obvious. Others are easy to underestimate. Difficulty breathing, repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, suspected ingestion of a toxic substance, an inability to urinate (especially in male cats), uncontrolled bleeding, sudden weakness or collapse, eye injuries, seizures, severe lethargy, and any noticeable change in mental state all warrant an immediate phone call. When in doubt, call our team and let us triage with you over the phone. We will tell you whether the situation needs to be seen today, the next day, or whether home monitoring is appropriate.
Call Ahead Before You Come In
For urgent cases, call (604) 221-5858 before driving in. There are three reasons. First, our team can begin triage during the call and tell you whether something needs immediate attention or whether it can wait safely until later. Second, we can prepare equipment, supplies, and clinic space for arrival, which saves time once your pet is in the building. Third, for situations that need a higher level of care than a daytime general practice can provide, we can point you to a 24-hour facility before you make an unnecessary trip.
Common Urgent Presentations We See
The most common urgent presentations at our clinic are sudden vomiting or diarrhoea, breathing difficulty, sudden injury or limping, allergic reactions (often presenting as facial swelling, hives, or sudden itching), urinary issues (straining, frequency, blood in urine), pain that cannot be ignored, ingestion of substances that should not have been eaten, and rapid changes in energy or behaviour. Each of these can have many causes, which is why a same-day assessment matters more than guessing from home.
FAQs
If your dog or cat needs same-day urgent care, call (604) 221-5858 now. Our team at Alta Vista Animal Hospital in Dunbar will triage your pet over the phone and reserve a same-day slot if one is needed today.